Method of applying or laying asphalt plates



Aug. 27, 1 2 F. c. J. DE BOTH METHOD OF APPLYING 0R LAYING ASPHALT PLATES Filed June 16, 1927 uoentoz Patented Aug. 27, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,726,215 PATENT OFFICE.

I'BANSISC'UB C. J. n! BOTH, DECEASED, BY JACOBUS D. DE BOTH, ADMINISTRATOR,

! MG, NETHERLANDS.

METHOD OI APPLYING OR LAYING ASPHALT PLATES.

Application filed June 18, 1927. Serial 110. 199,314.

The present invention, in its broad aspect, has reference to improvements and in methods of applying or laying bitumastic, asphaltic an asphaltic-granito plates on floors,

aisles, walls and the like to form a novel covering therefor. It has been found that asphalt plates of the type defined in my Patent #1,643,059, granted September 20th, 1927 when applied or laid, form a desirable,

1o wear resisting and durable surface covering which is free from dust, and which is both moisture and weather proof and of pleasing and artistic aspect or appearance. Heretofore, asphaltic or bitumastic bases have been suggested forfloor and the like coverings, but none as far as is known have met with practical success except the application of asphalt as a mass. Among the principal advantages of my method of laying asphalt plates may be briefly defined the following;

' first, the plates may be laid with greater convenience and facility than asphalt in the mass thereby greatly reducing the cost in that a material saving is etl'ectcd in time,

labor and ap aratus; it having been found that two wor en can lay 100 square yards of surface in about 16 hours; secon the thickness of the surface coating may be varied by usingplates of different thickness,

thereby adapting the coating to the require-' ments of estimated trafiic thereon; third, in the specialized, quantity production of plates in a centralized plant a greater uniformity can be obtained, a saving in labor and equipment effected, and a better selection of raw materials had at less cost than in the ap lication of. asphalt or composition to a sur ace in the mass; fourth, the plates can be sold a at retail in any desired quantity to cover 40 any given area, and they can be applied by anyone by following simple instructions and without the use 0 special tools; fifth, an asphalt floor can be laid in a nursery, kitchon or other room in a dwelling where it would otherwise be impractical or undesirable to lay such a fioor on account of the excessive generation of heat, noxious fumes and vapors, and the like usually accompanying the application of asphalt in mass; sixth,

so the plates can be readily taken up after having once been laid, and re-laid over another base and replacements and repairs can be quickl cheaply and effectively made, and; sevent a surface covering of asphalt plates formed in accordance with the present methed and apparatus affords a high degree of insulation from heat, cold and sound, is impervious to moisture, air, gas and the like, can be quickly cleaned, and is possessed to the desirable inherent resiliency (or springiness) of bitumen or asphalt which cannot be had with the use of tile, concrete, and certain composition floorings.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel steps and combinations of steps constituting the method, as will be more fully disclosed hereinafter and particularly pointed out in the claims.-

In the drawings wherein the application ofnthe method is illustrated diagramatica y:-

Figure 1, is a view of the laying of the initial plate,

Figure 2, is a. view of the laying of the second plate,

Figure 3, is a view of the laying of additional plates, and

Figure 4, view A is a detail of an elevated seam. and view B of a flattened 0r pressed down seam.

The materials used in forming the asphalv tic or bituniastic mass from which my plates are made are preferably compounded according to either of two formulas; the first involving the use of ground asphalt .rock and 15 or 20 per cent bitumen, and the second a mixture of asphaltmastic (a commercial product) and a per cent of bitumen and sand to attain the desired consistency. The mass is heated to a very high degree of temperature since the hardness of the plates produced from such materials bears a direct relationshi to the temperature to which the mass is rought.

When it is desired to form asphaltlcgranito plates, from 15 to 20 per centver fine (about 00 degrees comminution) marb e chips (without dust) is added to the asphaltic mass before it is cast, and the plates are subsequently scoured until the marble chips show through and the plates present a pleasing and smooth appearance. The method of forming the plates from the foregoing materials or stock is defined in my Patent #1,643,059 granted September 20th 1927, and 111 my copending applications covering respectively the apparatus for forming the asphalt sheets, cutting the sheets, and scouring plates of the asphaltic-gramto type, and 1 present plates (A) may be laid either on a wooden or concrete base (B) or floor, but if wooden floor is used for a base provision for ventilation shouldbe made beneath the floor to prevent dry rot. In applying the plates, the first plate (C) is laid preferably in the left hand corner (B) of the room and spaced from the walls a distance of about the thickness of the plate. The edges or peripheral margins are then heated throu hout their entire vertical extent with a blow torch to about the melting temperature whereupon the plate is forced to position. The next plate (E) is similarly placed and treated and so on until the surface is covered; the meeting edges of the plates bein smoothed down with a hot, blunt trowel 5F) as shown in Figure 4, views A and B. In llafying asphaltic-granito plates the entire su ace is polished after laying the plates with a polishlng machine of any approved make. It will thus be seen that the only essential implements required to lay the present plate is a blow-torch and a blunt trowel. An unskilled workman or any other person can do the work quickly and at ver small cost, and repairs can be easily ma c, it simply being necessary to remove the worn or defective plate. So also can the entire floor be taken up and relaid with facility. In practice the plates are usually made with a thickness of 10 mm. for ordinary purposes and are 500 x 500 mm.

square, but these dimensions are subject to wide variation to meet difi'erent trafiic conditions. They may also be laid in an asphalt emulsion where traific conditions are heavy, or where desired; .and the plates may also be dyed various attractive colors where desired although dyed plates have been found to be somewhat lacking in cohesiveness.

It is obvious that those skilled in the art may vary the details 01 construction as well as the arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention, and therefore it is not desired to be limited to the foregoing disclosure except as may be re uired by the claim.

at is claimed is:

The method of applying asphaltic or hitumastic plates to a foundation to be covered thereby, consisting in first placing a plate in one corner of the foundation or the like and slightly spaced from the wall about the foundation a distance about the thickness of the plate, then heating the marginal portions of the plate throughout its entire vertical extent to about the melting point 'of the asphalt, and forcing the plate into engagement with the wall so that the semi-liquid asphalt adheres to the wall about the foundation, then taking each successive plate and first positioning it slightly spaced with regard to the plate or plates last laid and heating its marginal portions throughout the vertical extent thereof to about the melting point of the asphalt and forcing it against the next adjacent plates so that the heated, semi-liquid asphalt at the edges of adjoining plates intermingles to form a homogeneous mass, and then heating and pressing down all elevated or bulged seams between the plates caused by pressure on the heated ed es or marginal portions when the plates are orced to position.

In testimony whereof I aflixmysignature.

. JACOBUS J. D. on BOTH, Administrator of the Estate of F. 0'. J.

de Both, Deceased. 

